The Colorful World of Coloring Books

Coloring books have become more popular than ever – for all ages. Brighten up your day by doing these activities about coloring books.

CONNECT:

• Coloring books are their earlier variations started over five hundred years ago! Read about their history at https://time.com/4880819/coloring-books-history/
• Coloring books for children didn’t start until the late 19^th century, stimulated by the establishment of kindergartens a few years earlier. Teachers realized that coloring could be a great way to learn. Find out how they developed at https://www.vox.com/2015/9/2/9248663/coloring-book-history
• Today, crayons are the main tool used to use with coloring books. Watch this video to see how they are made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmiRjmbnn8Q

CREATE:

• Celebrate National Coloring Book Day any day, not just on its official day of August 2. This holiday is new: it started just in 2015. Get the details at https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-coloring-book-day-august-2
• Make your next party more colorful by making color book party favors. See how to make them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FTjy2GdW1g
• Libraries and museums have created coloring books from source in their collections. Choose and color some special pictures from http://www.openculture.com/2016/02/download-free-coloring-books-from-world-class-libraries-museums.html

CARE:

• Coloring books are used to teach about health and to keep healthy because it can relax and sooth you. Color can also be used for rehabilitation purposes, such as recovering hand-eye coordination. Meet healthy heroes by coloring them in at https://www.cdc.gov/family/kidheroes/index.htm
• Have fun and be crafty while practicing recycling with these cool craft projects you can do with broken crayons: https://www.simplemost.com/11-cool-things-broken-crayons/
• As a family activity, create a coloring book from family photos. You’ll make lasting memories as you draw from your memories. Follow the directions at https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Coloring-Book/

CAREERS:

Learn about the world of word by creating a coloring book of occupations. Here’s how: http://mychildsfuture.org/parents/activities/Activity_ES_OccupationsColoring.pdf

Do you see your future in coloring books? You might draw original designs, construct or manufacture coloring books, sell them, or use them as a teacher at school, in a doctor’s office, or business. Here are ways to make your job more colorful.

https://www.flavorwire.com/136196/books-as-visual-art

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-book-publishing-jobs-2316066

Going Green

Whether to address climate change or to reduce energy, green technology is a growing trend. It’s never too early to go green, and these activities can help.

CONNECT:

• See the coolest most environmentally-friendly buildings in the world at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO1GoPbXubg  Try designing your own green building.
• Part of green technology involves renewable energy. Get the facts at https://www.ducksters.com/science/environment/renewable_energy.php
• Can a bike be green? Read about this cardboard invention at http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/cardboard-pedal-pusher/
• What are some of the green technologies of the future that are being developed now? Find out at https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/exciting-new-green-technology-of-the-future/

CREATE:

• Here are 20 activities that kids can do to learn about sustainability: https://www.naturespath.com/en-us/blog/20-activities-kids-learn-sustainability/
• Get artistic with these easy recycling projects: https://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2014/04/recycled-art-project-for-kids-2.html
• Plastic bottles, anyone? Here are lots of ways to recycle them into crafts: http://www.playideas.com/plastic-bottle-crafts-for-kids/  Brainstorm some more ideas.

CARE:

• What does it mean to be green? Watch this video to find out how you can be green: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lieN18OTlME
• How big is your carbon footprint? Take this survey to show your family’s impact on the environment: https://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/globalwarming/downloads/GoGreen_Activities 508_compliant_small.pdf
• Here are 10 ways to go green at school: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/beth-newingham/my-april-top-ten-list-going-green-at-school/

CAREERS:

Green technology is a growing career sector. Scientists, environmentalists, engineers, manufacturers, recyclers, are just a few of the possibilities. Read these interviews with green technology professionals, and see your future bloom!

https://climatekids.nasa.gov/career-contractor/

https://climatekids.nasa.gov/career-recycling/

https://climatekids.nasa.gov/career-landscaper/

The Fabric of Our Lives

Fabric clothes us and surrounds us in our homes and public spaces. Not only does it come in different sizes, colors and textures, but it can be made from many kinds of things. Follow the threads of these activities about fabrics.

CONNECT:

• Cloth, textile or fabric are similar names for manufactured material. Get more textile facts at https://kids.kiddle.co/Textile
• Usually only people wear clothing, more recently from fabric rather than fur. Discover the invention of textile at http://www.historyofclothing.com/textile-history/
• Watch the journey of cotton from far to fabric at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orKBbm9lJ1s

CREATE:

• These great fabric crafts are a fun way to make great projects with the family while learning about working with fabric: https://www.education.com/activity/fabric-projects/
• Create your own Adinkra cloth, a hand-printed fabric made in Ghana, by following the directions at https://www.pbs.org/wonders/Kids/cloth/cloth.htm
• You too can weave – on a cardboard loom – with these simple instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ByYj5G4-Hc

CARE:

• Here is an age-by-age guide on laundry skills kids need to learn: https://www.whatsupfagans.com/teach-kids-laundry-skills/
• You can sew for charity; here are ways to get involved and what you can make: https://www.maigocute.com/pages/sewing-for-charity
• Many animals are exploited to make the material for fabrics, some of which are now endangered animals; learn about them at https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/animals-used-skins/

CAREERS:

Weave a fulfilling career through fabric: from farm to manufacturing, from design to selling and its maintenance. Here are some insights.

http://www.sewing.org/html/textilecareers.html

https://textiles.ucdavis.edu/careers

https://www.apparelsearch.com/employment/job_descriptions/fashion_industry_job_descriptions.htm